Internet thinks that Warner Bros. may have killed movie theaters with huge HBO Max move

HUGE.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the movie-theater industry hard as people around the country have largely avoided (or been prohibited from) gathering in indoor crowds.

But even the optimism over a vaccine’s arrival may not be enough to save the theater industry, especially with the Thursday announcement from Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Pictures Group announced that it will release its entire 2021 film slate for streaming on HBO Max to run concurrent with the theatrical release. And by “entire film slate,” Warner Bros. means EVERYTHING. The Matrix, Dune, Space Jam, Suicide Squad will all be on HBO Max in addition to theaters.

In terms of the movie industry, it’s difficult to overstate how consequential this announcement will be for theaters.

Most blockbusters set for a 2020 release were delayed in order to have its full theatrical release (huge for revenue) in 2021. But this announcement could very well change how the movie theater industry functions in the future.

Twitter was already seeing it as the end for theaters.

We’ll have to see if the other studios — NBC Universal, Viacom, Disney — make similar moves with their streaming services. But for now, it doesn’t look good for theaters in 2021.

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